Device for removing lids from cans



April 21, 1953 D. F. COCKRELL DEVICE FOR REMOVING LIDS FROM CANS Filed Jan. 25, 1951 2 SHEETS-SHEET l IN VEN TOR.

ATTORNEYS April 1953 D. F. COCKRELL 2,635,801

DEVICE FOR REMOVING LIDS FROM CANS Filed Jan. 25, 1951 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 ATTORNEYS Patented Apr. 21, 1953 Dennis Flynn Cockrell, Enid, Okla.

Application "January 25, 1951, Serial No. 207,759

Claims.

This invention relates to .a device for removing lids from cans preparatory to filling thereof. For example, many products are packed in large cans having lids provided with annular flanges that fit tightly over the open ends of the cans. The cans are received by the user with the lids in place so that the lids must be removed from the empty cans. Where such cans are used in large numbers, as in egg breaking plants .and the like, the removal of the lids is a slow and tiresome procedure on the part of the operator.

It is, therefore, the principal object of the present invention to provide amachine for automatically removing the lids in a faster and more eilicient manner with less fatigue on the part of the operator.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a machine of this character which is positive in operation, simple in construction and which removes the lids without damage 'to the cans or lids.

In accomplishing these and other objects of the invention as hereinafter pointed out, I have provided improved structure the preferred form of which is illustratedin the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. l is a perspective view of my improved machine for removing lidsfromcans.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the machine.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section through the machine showing ya can in place for effecting removal of the lid.

Fig. i .is a similar section showing actuating parts of the machine after the lid has been removed.

Referring more in detail to the drawings:

I designates a machine constructed in accordance with the present invention and which is especially adapted for removing lids from .cans of the type including a thin annular wall at having a bottom b secured to one end of the side wall by an annular crimp c, the Opposite end being closed by a lid dhaving an annular flange e:fitting tightly over the circumference of the side wall a. The machine I includes a frame -2 having sides 3 and 4 each comprising vertical posts 5 and 6. The posts of each :side frame "are interconnected by vertically spaced cross rails l, :8, and 9 and substantially longer footing sills Ill. The side frames are connected together intermediate the sills Iii and rails B by a platform H which projects rearwardly from the side frames .to mount a motor I2. The sides of the frame are also interconnected in substantial plane with the :rails 8 by a rail H. The upper ends .of the side frames are connected by plates 15 and 16 having substantially semi-circular seats I! and I8 for .supporting the ends of a can in substantially horizontal position as later described.

Also connecting the posts 5 between the cross rails 9 and the plate 15 is a-shelf 19 for mounting a push rod 2a which is reciprocable in bearing brackets 2| and 22 that are attached to the shelf 59 by suitable fastening .devices23. 'The forward end of the rod 20 carries a vertically positioned cross arm E l having a lower end 25 guidedly supported between guides 26 and 21 that project forwardly from the shelf H) as best shown in Figs. 1, 3, and 4. The upperendof the cross arm is thus supported in vertical position and carries a yoke 28 comprising an angle 29 bent in semicircular shape with one flange an thereof located in a plane parallel with the can supporting plate 15 and the other flange 3| extending forwardly and carrying an arcuatelip 32 which is of shorter length than the angle forming the yoke. The inner edge 33 of the flange conforms in radius with the radius of the arcuate seats of the can supporting plates to closely engage the wall of the can as shown in Fig. 3 with the inner face of the flange engaging the edge I of the lid fiangee.

The flange 3| is of a width 'so that the lip 32 is spaced from the flange 30 substantially conforming with the width of the lid flange e as shown in Fig. 3 for engaging the outer marginal face of the lid when the flange 3|) is engaging under the edge of the lid flange.

The can is anchored in position on the seat of the supporting plate l6 by means of a yoke-like holder or saddle strap 34 that'is adapted to extend over the top of the can and which has laterally extending terminals 35 and 36, the terminal 35 being pivotally mounted on one of the upper rails 1 by means of a pivot 31 so that the saddle strap may be swung from a .position out of registry with the seat it to a position in registry therewith with the terminal 36 overlyin the opposite post '5 of the side frame and abutting against a stop ear 38.

The saddle strap is normally retained in the position shown in Fig.1 by means of a coil spring 39 having one end connected with the terminal 35 of the saddle and its opposite end connected with a pin All on the rail 1. The opposite terminal maybe provided with a handle 4| bywhich the saddle is retained in clamping engagement with the can, as later described.

The lid removing yoke is actuated under power of the motor 12, as now to be described.

Mounted on the cross rails '9 are brackets 42' and 43 mounting a. rocker shaft 44. Fixed to the rocker shaft 44 is a rocker arm 45 having a yoke 46 on its upper end that is pivotally connected by a pin 41 with the push rod 25. The opposite end of the rocker arm depends from the rock shaft and carries a roller 48 that is journalled on a pin 49 carried by a yoke-shaped por-- tion 59 of the arm. The roller 48 is retained in rolling contact with a cam i that is fixed to a cam shaft 52 having the ends thereof journalled in bearing brackets 53 and 54 that are mounted on the cross rails 8, the roller being retained in contact with the cam by a coil spring 55 having one end connected with a terminal 56 of the rocker arm and its opposite end connected with a lug 51 on the rail I3.

The cam shaft is rotated from a countershaft 58 having its ends rotatably mounted in bearing brackets 59 and 60 that are carried by the posts 6 substantially in horizontal alignment with the cam shaft as best shown in Fig. l. The countershaft carries a pulley 6| that is continuously driven from a pulley 62 on the motor l2 through a belt 83 operating over the respective pulleys. Loosely mounted on the countershaft is a sprocket 64 that aligns with the sprocket 65. Fixed to the cam shaft and operating over the respective sprockets is a chain 65. The sprocket 6 3 is adapted to be operatively connected with the countershaft by a clutch collar 61 that is slidably connected with the countershaft by a spline 68. Formed on the collar on the side facing the sprocket 64 are teeth or lugs 69 which are adapted to engage teeth It on the hub H of the sprocket 64 when the clutch collar is shifted on the shaft by a clutch lever 12. The clutch lever i2 is pivotally mounted as at 13 between brackets ?4 that are carried by the platform H. The upper end of the lever has a yoke 75 provided with pins 16 engaging in an annular groove T? of the clutch collar. The lower end of the lever projects through a slot in the platform and connects with a bell crank lever 18 which is pivotally connected with a bracket 19 depending from the underside of the platform. The bell crank lever has a depending arm 8!] that is connected by a link 8i with the depending end of the clutch lever as best shown in Fig. 1.

The other arm 82 of the bell crank projects outwardly from under the platform H and connects by a link 83 with a foot pedal 3%, the foot pedal 85 being pivota-lly mounted as at 85 on the footing sill Ill. The clutch actuating parts thus described yieldingly retain the clutch collar out of clutching engagement by means of a coil spring d6 having one end connected with the projecting arm of the bell crank lever and the other end connected with a bracket 81 which projects from the adjacent post 6 of the side frame.

In operating the machine constructed and assembled as described, a can is placed within the arcuate seats Hand N3 of the can supporting plates with the fiange'of the lid engaged between the lip 32 and the flange 3! of the lid removing yoke. The operator then grasps the handle 4| of the saddle strap and swings it into position over the bottom of the can with the terminal 36 thereof engaging the stop ear 38. Downward leverage is then applied to the saddle strap so as to clamp the can in the seat i8 and prevent shifting of the can when the lid is removed therefrom, as later described.

With the motor in operation, the operator steps on the pedal 34 to shift the clutch collar into driving engagement with thesprocket- 54 so as to actuate the cam shaft through the chain 66. When the high lobe portion of the cam 5| comes in contact with the cam roller 48, the lever 45 is rocked in a counter-clockwise direction, Fig. 3, to actuate the push rod in the forward direction so that the yoke is shifted as shown in Fig. 4 to effect removal of the lid. As the yoke is shifted outwardly, the flange thereof pushes the lid 01f of the can. The lid, however, will be kept in an upright position in the yoke because the lip 32 prevents tilting thereof while the lid is being pushed off of the can and the lid is prevented from falling on the floor after it has been pushed off. Upon removal of the lid, the operator removes his foot from the foot pedal and the spring 86 is effective in withdrawing the clutch collar out of drive engagement with the sprocket 64. The operator then releases his hold on the saddle strap so that it swings to retracted position.

The operator will then lift the front end of the can with one hand while the lid is being lifted out of the yoke with the other hand. The lid is then placed inside the empty can and the empty can with the lid inside thereof is removed from the machine.

From the foregoing, it is obvious thatI have provided a machine for removing lids from cans which is of simple and inexpensive construction and which is easily operated under power of a motor.

It is also obvious that the machine is positive in operation and will remove the lids Without damaging the can or lid as the lid is being removed therefrom.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A machine of the character described including a frame, spaced can supports on the frame having seats for seating a can near the bottom rim and lid ends thereof, a yoke for engaging against the crimp of a lid on said can, means for reciprocably mounting the yoke on the frame, a rock lever connected with said mounting means, a cam follower on the rock lever, a cam shaft carried by the frame, a cam on the shaft engaged by said follower, a clutch including a driven element having driving connection with the cam shaft and a driving element, a motor on the frame having driving connection with the driving element of the clutch, and a foot pedal on the frame having connection with said clutch to effect engagement and disengagement of said clutch elements for effecting actuation of the yoke, said lid removing yoke having a lip for supporting the can lid when the lid is removed from said can.

2. A machine for removing lids from cans of the type which includes a side wall surrounding an open end that is closed by a lid having a flange sleeved over the side wall, said machine including a frame, can supporting means on the frame and stationary therewith and adapted to engage the side wall at one side of the can, a clamp movable on the frame and cooperating with the can supporting means for engaging the wall at the opposite side of the can to retain the can in fixed position on the frame, lid engaging means conforming with the side wall of the can and having a lid engaging portion abutting contact with said flange of the lid and a lid retaining portion for engaging the outer face of the lid to support the lid when dislodged from the can, means'mounting the lid engaging means for reciprocatory movement on the frame along the side wall of the can and in the direction of the lid to push the lid from the can, and motor actuated means on the frame for operating said lid engaging means.

3. A machine for removing lids from cans of the type which includes an annular side wall surrounding an open end that is closed by a lid having an annular flange sleeved over the side wall, said machine including a frame, can supporting means on the frame and stationary therewith and adapted to engage the side wall at one side of the can, a clamp movable on the frame and cooperating with the can supporting means for engaging the wall at the opposite side of the can to retain the can in fixed position on the frame, lid dislodging and supporting means having an arcuate yoke portion conforming to the outer radius of the can wall, means mounting said lid dislodging and supporting means for sliding movement on the frame with the yoke movement on the frame along the side wall of the can and in the direction of the lid, said yoke having can engaging means on opposite sides thereof for retaining the lid therebetween, reciprocating means mounted on the frame and having connection with lid dislodging and supporting means, and motor actuated means having connection with the reciprocating means to effect dislodgement of the lid from the can.

4. A machine for removing lids from cans of the type which includes an annular side wall surrounding an open end that is closed by a lid having an annular flange sleeved over the side wall, said machine including a frame, can supporting means on the frame and stationary therewith and adapted to engage the side wall at one side of the can, a clamp movable on the frame and cooperating with the can supporting means for engaging the wall at the opposite side of the can to retain the can in fixed position on the frame, lid dislodging and supporting means having an arcuate yoke portion conforming to the outer radius of the can wall, means mounting said lid dislodging and supporting means for sliding movement on the frame with the yoke movement on the frame along the side Wall of the can and in the direction of the lid, said yoke having can engaging means on opposite sides thereof for retaining the lid therebetween, reciprocating means mounted on the frame and having connection with the lid dislodging and supporting means, motor actuated means having connection with the reciprocating means to effect dislodgement of the lid from the can, and clutch means in the driving connection for rendering the reciprocating means effective.

5. A machine for removing lids from cans of the type which includes an annular side wall surrounding an open end that is closed by a lid having an annular flange sleeved over the side wall, said machine including a frame, can supporting means fixed on the frame and adapted to engage the side wall at one side of the can, a clamp movable on the frame and cooperating with the can supporting means for engaging the wall at the opposite side of the can to retain the can in fixed position on the frame, a yoke engaging the side wall of the can in substantially aligning registry with the can supporting means, guide means mounting the yoke for reciprocatory movement on the frame alongside of the can wall in the direction of the lid, a rock lever pivotally mounted on the frame and having connection with the yoke to move said yoke, motor actuated means on the frame for actuating the rock lever, said motor actuated means including a cam follower on the rock lever and engaging the cam, a motor, a driving connection between the motor and the cam, and clutch means in the driving connection for rendering the cam selectively effective in actuating the rock lever.

DENNIS FLYNN COCKRELL.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,753,548 Butler Apr. 8, 1930 1,922,772 Lathrop Aug. 15, 1933 2,284,660 Hothersall et al June 2, 1942 2,420,642 Almgren May 20, 1947 2,570,186 Almgren Oct. 9, 1951 2,570,267 Nordquist Oct. 9, 1951 

